Method and apparatus for making container for liquid products



Aug. H, 1959 G. A MooRE 2,898,822

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING CONTAINER FOR LIQUID PRODUCTS Filed June11, 1957 v 2 SheetsSheet l v PRIMARY ism/ 4- IN VEN TOR.

Aug. 11, 19 59 G. A. MOORE 2,898,822

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING CONTAINER FOR LIQUID PRODUCTS Filed June11, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

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METHOD AND APPARATUS FGR MAKING CONTAHJER lFQR LIQUID PRUDUCTS Thisinvention relates to containers of paper-board or other sheet materialand in combination with plastic materials, and more particularly tonovel means and methods for constructing a liquid-tight and sterilestructure of the container basically embodied with a strictly sanitarydispensing end closure having novel features for efficient utility whichfacilitates easy opening thereof without imposing deleterious effects toclean and sterile surfaces exposed by the opening of the container fordispensing purpose. The opposite open end of the container being adaptedfor rapid filling without back pressure, after which the end may beclosed in hermetic seam forming relationship.

It is generally known that conventional paper containers in use arelimited to a relatively short duration of time for distribution of alimited variety of particular products that may be packed therein toreach the consumer efore deteriorating. A majority of such containersare treated with paraffin Wax in order to cover up the vulnerableweaknesses of the wall structure and closures thereof. This fact isespecially recognized by those skilled in the art. On the other hand,glass containers such as bottles are breakable, cumbersome and costly touse, besides, difficult to dispose of after use.

While several of my prior issued patents disclose various improvementsmade in the structure and service utility of paper containers, forexample the Patent No. 2,750,697 issued lune 12, 1956, the presentinvention, however, constitutes new and novel improvements made on theseprior inventions and one of the prime objects herein is to provide anefficient container structure that may be made liquid-tight and by anovel method which includes the forming of a flat basic dispensingclosure built into the base area of a flat blank assembly prior to theforming of the body side walls of the container from corner edges of thebasic closure.

Another object of the invention is to provide in the base wall portionof the above container selective surface areas that are coated with anon-thermoplastic material conjunctively related with adjacent surfaceareas that are coated with thermoplastic material, the major portion ofthe areas defining the wall surface boundary of the above dispensingclosure structure including its severable wall portion.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a pair of cut blankstreated with thermoplastic material and assembled together in cruciformrelationship adapted to be formed by a novel method to complete thestructure of the container from the boundary corner edges of the priorformed base dispensing closure part of the container structure in onecycle of operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide the above container withtapered side walls square or rectangular shape in horizontal crosssection, ti o tapering walls being effective to form the flat dispensingclosure end with a relatively small surface area compared with a largesurface area at the opposite end closure of the container when formed,and which closure constitutes the 2 base bottom end of the completedcontainer thus making the small end adapted for drinking the intendedliquid content of the container directly from the mouth of a novelorifice when opened for dispensing purposes.

Another object of the invention is to provide the interior wall surfacesof the container with plastic covering material that is bacteriostatictreated to render the container sterile, and further including aseparate sterile plastic bonnet to be disposed over the exterior surfaceportions of the dispensing closure part of the container structure thusinsuring clean and sanitary wall surfaces.

Still another object of the invention is to form the interior structureof the container totally free of exposed raw cut edges of fibrousmaterial to prevent wall absorption from contents intended fordistribution in the container.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and simplemethod for forming the above container of the cruciform blank uponregistry with a male and female die adapted with novel central apparatusparts to clamp and emboss the central surface area of the blank and thenprojecting it while clamped into the female die to form and complete thewall structure and seams of the container by the co-acting effects ofthe simple dies and clamping members.

Other objects and novel features of the invention will appear more fullyhereinafter from the following details of description when considered inconnection with the accompanying drawings, wherein several embodimentsof the invention are illustrated. It is to be expressly understood thatthe drawings are utilized for purposes of illustration only, and are notto be taken as a definition of the limits of the invention, referencebeing had for this purpose to the appended claims.

In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters refer to similarparts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a partial plan view of a cruciform blank adapted to be formedinto a container of the above type;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the blank shown in Fig. 1 taken along line2-2 showing the initial step of constructing the above dispensingclosure for the container to be formed of the blank;

Fig. 2a is a sectional view of the blank taken along a line similar to22 showing a modification in preparation for constructing a dispensingclosure with modified features;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of die apparatus adapted for forming thecontainer and showing a sectional portion of the blank of Fig. 1 ininitial registered position with the die apparatus parts;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged partial sectional view of the die apparatus takentransversely through the center of Fig. 3 and showing a modification toapparatus parts;

Fig. 5 is a View in full perspective showing the completed container;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged partial sectional plan view of a body wall portionof the container shown in Fig. 5 taken along line e s thereof;

Pig. 7 is a partial sectional view of the container taken along line 7-7in Fig. 5 showing a cross section of the sealed dispensing closure andits plastic bonnet;

Fig. 8 is a partial perspective view of the container showing the sealeddispensing closure end thereof;

Fig. 9 is a partial perspective view of the container showing thedispensing closure of Fig. 8 after being opened;

Fig. 10 is a partial perspective View of the container shown in tiltedposition with its dispensing orifice open and fully exposed fordispensing purposes, and

Fig. 11 is enlarged partial sectional plan view showing a modificationthat may be made to the body structure of the container.

The instant invention is particularly directed to a means and method forforming an improved container having an efficient dispensing end closurethat may be initially builtinto the central base wall portion of a pairof flat blanksthat are assembled together in cruciform relationship, andin the cycle of operation complete the construction of the dispensingclosure constituting the initial step of forming the complete structureof the container of the blank assembly in co-acting die apparatusconsisting of male and female die members arranged with embodied shaftplaten heads that oppose each other to compressively emboss the flatwalls of the closure prior to the forming and securing of-the body wallsof the container and in one co-acting cycle operation of the abovesimple dies and central reciprocal'apparatus parts.

To this end, two elongated cut blanks of selective conbinations of sheetmaterial are prepared with protective plastically treated surfaces, theseam forming surface areas being thermoplastic. The central base area ofeach blank is arranged with selectively separated wall areasconstituting a structural base for the construction of a dispensingclosure when superimposing the blanks together in cruciformrelationship, the central base areas thereof being adhered together.Lateral wall portions extending outwardly from the boundary sides of thebase surface areas constituting side walls when forming the container.Two opposed lateral wall portions including the base area thereof havingopposed marginal foldable flanges selectively cut and pre-bent. Theblank assembly is registered into apparatus constiting ofa male andfemale die having body wall surfaces shaped coincident with the shape ofside walls designed for the body of the container. The female die memberis embodied with heating means, and associated with a central reciprocalshaft having a platen head. The male die member having a similar centralreciprocal shaft with a platen head, both heads being adapted to clampand emboss the registered blank upon opposite surface sides of itscentral base area and thereby initially complete the end wall formationof the dispensing closure. While clamped, the blank assembly is drawninwardly of the female die whereby, the coaeting effects of the dieapparatus members upon the blank forms the side walls extendingtransversely from the corner edges of the prior formed end closure wallportions. The marginal flanges of side walls are heated and wedge drawntightly in seam forming relationship to secure the associated walls ofthe formed structure together and thereby complete the wall structure ofthe container. The greatly enlarged area of the open end of the formedstructure being adapted for rapid filling of the container without backpressure. The body side walls at the open end being adapted for supportof capping means or alternatively may be provided with folding endelements to constitute a hermetic closure to seal the container andthereby form the bottom base end thereof. The dispensing closure endbeing adapted to be opened with fingers without imposing deleteriouseffects to the wall surfaces that are adjacent the edge of the exposedorifice.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 1, the present invention isillustrated therein as including a container blank assembly consistingof a primary blank member 4 and a superimposing secondary blank member5. The primary blank is preferably cut of foldable fibrous sheetmaterial and the interior surface coated or otherwise treated with afilm of plastic material having thermo' plastic properties. The plasticmaterial being originally formulated with bacteriostatic treatment. Theblank may be scored with tapering lines 6 and squared lines in pairs 7and 8 defining a central wall panel 9 and two laterally opposedoutwardly extended wall panels 1%.

Each wall panel 10 is provided with a pair of outwardly flaring marginalflange portions 11 extended outwardly of the longitudinalscore lines6,and the central wall panel 9 is provided with like opposed flangeportions cut to"de fine portions 12 and 13 extended outwardly of eachscore line 8. The wall portion 13 is further defined by a pair ofsubstantially parallel perforated cut lines 14, each line being spacedinwardly of the score line 7 of the blank member 4 and extendingparallel with lines 7 across the panel 9 including the flange portions12, and terminating at their opposite ends into outwardly projectedfinger tab wall portions 13. The continuous marginal flange portions 11and 12 are partially separated by a cut notch having mitred edges 15sloping inwardly toward each other to a blunt fillet edge 16 of eachnotch. The blunt edge 16 ofeach of the four notches is substantiallycentral of the terminal end of the transversely disposed score lines 7.In inner surface portion of the central wall panel 9 or alternatively,the coincident exterior surface of the panel 19 defined between theperforated lines 14 may be pattern coated with a non-thermoplasticmaterial 17 indicated by broken hatched lines, and the material beingoriginally formulated with bacteriostatic treatment. The pattern plasticcoating 17 is preferably extended outwardly of the pair of scored lines8 to terminate inwardly of a thermoplastic scalable border surface area18 of the tab portions 13.

The secondary blank 5 of the assembly may be cut of the same treatedmaterial used for the companion blank 4 or alternatively, cut from othersheet material such as 1 aluminum, plastic or of any composition form ofmaterial desired that may serve particular purpose. The blank 5 isprovided with a coincident central wall panel 19 defined with twoopposed parallel cut edges 20 in line with the underlying scored lines 7of the blank member 4, and a pair of opposing transversely disposedscored lines 21 in line with the underlying scored lines 8 of the wallpanel 9. The wall panel 19 is provided with a cut open hole sectionconstituting an orifice having its corner edge 22 spaced inwardly of theparallel perforated lines 14 and the transversely scored lines 21. Eachof two laterally opposed wall panels 23 extend outwardly of each scoredline 21 and having a pair of opposed outwardly sloping longitudinalcorner edges 24 coincident for alignment with the sloping scored lines 6of wall panels 10 when forming the container. The inner surface of thewall panel 9 of the blank 4 and the exterior surface of the wall panel19 of the blank 5 may be initially adhered together within the boundarylines that define the panels. At least the flange portions 11 of thewall panels 10 are preferably pre-bent to be freely articulated alongtheir respective scored lines 6 to facilitate the subsequent operationof forming the blank assembly into the container. Fig. 2 is intended toclarify the defined relationship of the superimposed adhered wallportions of the blank-assembly. It is to be noted that the open sectionof the wall panel 19 is covered on one side thereof by the wall panel 9,and the pair of perforated lines 14 are sealed against the adheredsurface portions of the panel 19.

The dispensing closure may be modified in structure as illustrated inFig. 2a whereby the open section of the wall panel 19 may be altered byleaving the hole cut material 25 in its original place therebyconstituting a plug having a boundary cut outline 26 adapted to releasethe plug from the hole by its surface attachment to the severableunderlying wall panel portion when being severed on the perforated lines14 thereof.

The blank assembly of Fig. 1 is now defined as being prepared to beformed into the container of the present invention. To this end, thecentral wall panel portions of the blank assembly is registered into dieapparatus illustrated in Fig. 3 and being shown in cross sectioncoincident with the line 33 across the blank shown in Fig. 1. Theapparatus consists of a male die member 27 having tapered exterior sidewall surfaces shaped coincident with the defined wall panel areas of theblank. The die may be mounted for support (not shown) in any suitable.manner desired and be attached to reciprocal mechanical f means forcycle motion such as a cam actuated arm or lever. A shaft or rod 28having a platen head 29 is supported by suitable bearings providedwithin the male die and the shaft being disposed through the center ofthe male die and attached to similar reciprocal mechanical means forindependent cycle motion. The platen head is seated home in the smallnose end of the male die and the face portions thereof beingsubstantially flat and coplanar in surface relationship. The interior ofthe male die is cored to provide an enclosed vacuum cham ber space 30suitably connected with a source of vacuum. A series of holes 31 aredrilled through the side walls into the chamber to provide air suctionmeans for a purpose hereinafter to be described. The female die member32 is provided with interior side wall surfaces shaped dimensionallycoincident with the side walls of the male member, and the large end ofthe tapered side walls terminating into a transversely disposed rimportion 33 having a flat top surface. The female die may be made insectional parts if so desired to be mechanically actuated to open andclose in cycle movement. The die 32 is provided with heating means whichmay consist of Calrod electrical heating elements 34 that are insertedinto rifle drilled holes longitudinally disposed through the body of thedie and adjacent each converging corner end of the interior surfaces ofthe inner tapering walls thereof. The die may be supported in fixedstationary position in any suitable manner desired and in concentriccentral alignment with the male die. A shaft 35 having a platen head 36is suitably mounted in bearings disposed outwardly of the small open endof the female die, and the shaft attached to reciprocal mechanical meansto suitably move the platen head longitudinally through the center ofthe cavity space of the female die. The platen head 36 is provided witha stepped end surface that forms an outer shoulder portion 37 and atransversely projected end surface portion 38 of reduced boundary area.The side wall surfaces of the platen head are tapered to extendcoincident with the tapered body side walls of the male die member.

The container is formed of the blank assembly as follows: the centraladhered wall panel portions of the blank assembly is registered inboundary alignment with the surfaces of the nose of the male die and theplaten heads 29 and 36, which heads are initially separated in openlyspaced gap relationship in order to register the blank in properlyaligned position after which, the platen heads are moved by thereciprocal means in face opposing relationship to clamp the registeredsection of the blank between their respective face surfaces. The flatsurface end of the male die including the seated platen head 29 is movedby its reciprocal means firmly opposed by the platen head 36 therebyoffsetting a portion of the wall 9 of the blank snugly embossing it intothe open hole section of the wall portion 19 and completing the end wallformation of the dispensing closure part of the ultimate container. Thepressure opposed platen heads together with the compressed wall portionof the blank are moved by the reciprocal actuation of the male die intothe female die. The wall panels 23 of the secondary blank member 5 arefirst folded in advanced acceleration upwardly and inwardly from corneredges of the clamped wall portion and by apparatus means (not shown),the panels '23 being registered upon the corresponding surfaces of twoopposing side wall surfaces of the male die and temporarily fastenedthereupon in registered position by the effects of the air suctionacting through the series of holes 31. This accelerated action isdesirable to take place early in the cycle movement of the male die intothe female die as shown in dotted lines, and in order to preventdisorderly alignment of the corner edges 24 of the wall panels 23 duringsubsequent formation with the score lines 6 of wall panels 10, whichpanels are folded upwardly and inwardly from their respective corneredges of the clamped wall portion thereof by the guiding walls of thefemale die. The pre-bent flange portions 11 of panel walls 10 are foldedat right angles to overlap the corresponding exterior surface portionsof the pre-registered side wall panels 23. The flange portions 12 and 13are folded upwardly and inwardly upon the corresponding exterior surfaceportions of the wall panels 23 thereby closing the notches of theflanges and bringing the edges 15 thereof into abutment to form mitredjoints and the blunt base of each joint being puckered and compressed toseal the corner ends of the end Wall structure. The action of the maledie inserted into the female die draws and swedges the flange portionsinto overlapping relationship with the corresponding surface portions ofthe pre-registered wall panels thereby compressing the edges 24 of theside walls 23 into tightly sealed abutment upon the correspondinginterior plastic surface of corresponding marginal portions of the wallpanels 10 adjacent the longitudinal corner ends. The heat exchangeeffected by the heating elements 34 through the wall portions of thefemale die and conducted into the plastic interior sur face of theswedged flange portions, almost instantly activates the plastic faceportions of the engaging wall surfaces and firmly welds them together inexceptionally tight seam forming relationship including the edge tosurface abutments thereof. It is to be noted that the side wall surfacesof the male and female dies are flat, smooth and tapered. Therefore, theswedging pressure exerted by the co-action of the engaging dies plus theheat exchange, irons while drawing the engaging surfaces of the wallportions together under compression thus, the seams formed on thecontainer structure are efficiently welded together in such manner thatthe interior wall surface structure of the formed container iscompletely void of exposed raw cut edges of fibrous material includingthe interior surface of the preformed dispensing closure end thereof.Upon retraction of the male die and platen heads 29 and 36 the completedcontainer may be ejected from the dies. The container 39 formed by thesimple die apparatus defined, is illustrated in Fig. 5 with theexception of the embodiment shown therein of a plastic bonnet appliedupon a portion of the container that is included for illustration in theview.

In Fig. 4 there is illustrated a partial and enlarged detail sectionalview of the nose of the male die 27 and the clamped section of the blankdisposed between the opposing surfaces of a pair of modified platenheads. The sectional view being shown in transverse direction of theView of the die apparatus shown in Fig. 3, and illustrating aninterchangeable morticed plate insert 39 suitably fastened in the faceof the modified platen head 40 having a hollow shaft portion 41 disposedthrough the center of the male die 27. The modified opposing platen head42 having a similar morticed plate insert 4-3 and a shaft portion 44disposed in central alignment with the shaft 41 and extended through thecavity of the female die 32 shown in Fig. 4. The shaft 44 is providedwith a central hole in which an electrical heating element 45 may beinserted for purpose of heating the platen head of the shaft tofacilitate the blank embossing operation. The inserted plates 39 and 43may be provided with engraved surface portions with which to impresscode informing symbols or any desired trademark into the surface of theend wall closure while constructing the container.

Referring now to Figs. 6 and 7 it will be noted that the cruciform blankand die apparatus has formed the container of substantially square crosssection, but not being limited to such shape. In Fig. 6 the edge 24 ofwall panel 23 is shown embedded in the heat activated plastic walllining material. This body wall structural relationship formed of thewall portions 10, 11, 23 and edge 24 is the positive result of being soformed by the co-acting effects of the male, female die and platen headoperation upon the wall portions of the blank and, further exemplifiedby the fact that the wall panels 10 and the transversely disposed panels23 with the en gaging-flanges 11 are finally swedged between thetapering wall'surfaces of the male and-female die. Hence,

portions. The edge to surface sealed abutments are 1 therefore formed bythe positive ironing pressureexerted inwardly simultaneously intransverse directions upon 1 the surfaces of engaging wall portions asshown by thedotted lines and arrows in Fig. 6. The heat imposed by theheatingelements in the female die while-ironing the wall surfaceportions of the container structure, heat fuses the thermoplasticmaterial to vulcanize together at 9 all of the converging corner edgesdesignated (a) of the formed structure of the container as shown inFigs. 6 and 7. The preferred location of the heating elements 34 withrespect to the wall portions that are sealed together is indicated bythe pair of circular lines shown in Fig. 11, which illustrationhereinafter will be described.

In the portion of the structure illustrated in Fig. 7-, it will be notedthat the edges and surfaces of the ,end wall portion 19 of side walls 23are substantially embedded in the plastic lining material. The inner"plastic surface of the recessed wall portion 46 of the wall -9 is mergedwith the inner plastic surface of the wall 19, which in turn is mergedwith the inner plastic surface of the walls 10. Marginal exteriorsurface portions of the wall 19 between the perforated lines 14 and cutedge 22 is coated with a non-thermoplastic material, and thethermoplastic opposing material on the inner surface of the wall 9 sealsthese surface engaging wall portions together by surface tensionadhesion. The perforated cut lines 14 in the wall 9 are sealed againstthe exterior surface of the wall 19 and the engaging surface portions ofthe walls 9 and 19 extending outwardly of the perforated lines arepermanently sealed together. The recessed wall portion 46 of the wall 9seals the open cut'section of the inner wall 19. Thus there is formed aliquid tight closure on the top end of the container. thatmay be coveredwith a plastic cap or bonnet 47 to keep the exterior surfaces clean andsanitary during the handling period of the container to reach theultimate consumer of its intended contents.

The sealed liquid tight closure in perspective view is illustrated inFig. 8. It is to be noted that the exterior surfaces of the flangeportions 11, 12 and 13 are coplanar in surface relationship includingthe mitred joints 15 thereof that are constructed upon the exteriorsurface of the two opposing side wall panels 23. The flange portions 12are substantially separated from. the central flange portion 13 by thedefined pair of cut lines 14 whereby the flange and its integral wholewall portion extending across the wall panel 9 is adapted to bepartially or completely severed to cleanly open thecontainer asillustrated in Fig. 9 and likewise cleanly expose the orifice 48 forcontainer dispensingpurposes. The tab end portion of the flange 13 maybe provided with a scored hinge line 49 thus making the non-adhered tabeasy to grasp and pull with the fingers to shear the wallportion alongthe cut lines 14. The pull tab being adapted to simultaneously removethe plastic.bonnet 47. The surface portions 17 that are exposed by theopening is covered with the previously defined nontherrnoplastic filmmaterial which protects the exterior surface of the dependent wall frombeing torn or otherwise injured including the thermoplastic material 50upon the interior of the previously sealed surface portion of thesevered wall. The stopper formed wall 13,may be-opened to the hingeforming corner edge 8 should it be desired to reclose the containerduring use. In this respect, the male side of the recessed wallportion46 may again be used to insert and plug into theorifice 48 and beretained therein by the friction imposed on the corner edge 22 of theorifice. Alternatively, the-wall portion 13 may be sheared and releasedby eithenof firmly sealed initially with the corresponding surfaceportions of the severable wall portions. The oppositely sealed borderportions co-acting with the stopper plug 46 to augment the previouslymentioned sealed section of the closure effected by surface tensionadhesion: As described hereinbefore, the surface portions 17 includingthe inner surfaces of the container are rendered sterile by thebacteriostatic treatment of the original formulation of the plasticmaterials utilized on the walls of the container structure. Thebacteriostatic treatment may be defined as being of an active ingredientsuch as diisobutyl phenoxyethoxy ethyl dimethyl benzyl ammoniumchloride, known by the trade name corobex. Such prior treatment of theplastic on the walls of the container makes its interior positivelygerm-proof including the surface portions 17 of the opened dispensingclosure which may be contacted with human lips when drinking contentsdirectly from the opened mouth of the container if desired as shown bythe opened container illustrated in Fig. 10. The sanitary feature 17 isaugmented by the sanitary protection of the adjacent wall portionsafforded by the original plastic bonnet 47 disposed over the sealeddispensing closure end of the container.

' The body side walls of the container formed by the hereinbeforedescribed die apparatus may be modified as illustrated in Fig. 11wherein the primary blank may be made of relatively heavy gaugepaper-board sheet material and the secondary blank made of relativelythin gauge aluminum sheet. The primary wall 52 and its integral flangeportion 53 is shaped with a radial corner 54 which is initiated from aslight radial corner edge from the dispensing closure end and graduallyincreasing in radius along the corner of the tapering side wall reachingits maximum radius at the base open end of the container body. Thesecondary blank wall portion 55 of aluminum or of any other sheetmaterial desired, is sealed to the corresponding inner surface portionof the primary wall flange 53. The longitudinal cut edge 56 of the wallportion 55 is aligned substantially along the longitudinal centerline ofthe variable radial corner edge of the converging side walls of thestructure. Hence, the edge 56 can not be abutted as shown by the edge-24 in Fig. 6. However, the edge portion 56 is impervious, but if not, itmay be compressed into the interior surface of the wall portion 52adjacent the edge if the gauge thickness is relatively thin. The primarypurpose of the modification shown in Fig. 11 is to provide means forforming round corners on the side walls of the container which willfacilitate the closing and seaming thereof with a metal clamping rim capsimilar to closures formed on the ends of conventional canister typecontainers.

In order to provide a continuous exterior surface around the entire baseof the container for such purpose, the flanges 53 as well as the flanges11 shown in Fig. 5 may be provided with longitudinal corner edges thatwill abut with each other or be extended together in part abutment asshown by the dot and dash lines 57. Alternatively, the side walls can beprovidedwith end elements that are adapted to befolded and sealedtogether in hermetic seam forming relationship. It will be understoodthat the cruciform blank may be formed of any two different combinationsof sheet materials for constructing the container according to the dutyrequired. This may include initial impregnation treatment of fibrous..material component parts, or the flushing, spraying of the containerwalls with suitable coating material after being ejected from thefabricating dies. In such event,

the wall panels of the primary blank which may include Whilemodifications of the invention have been illustrated and described, itwill be understood, by those skilled in the art, that various changesmay be made therein without departing from the general spirit of theinvention. Reference will therefore be had to the appended claims for adefinition of the limits of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. The method of forming a container of the character described, whichconsists in forming a primary blank of sheet material defining asubstantially square central area and oppositely extending panels,forming a similar secondary blank with an opening in its central area,superposing said blanks in crosswise relation to bring the central areasinto registry, joining said areas under pressure, bending said blanksalong the edges of said central areas to bring said extending panelsinto edge to edge relation, and connecting said panels in saidrelationship to define a container body having a substantially squarecross section.

2. The method of forming a container according to claim 1 which includesthe step of embossing the central area of said primary blank during thejoining of said central areas to form a plug which fits snugly into saidopening of the secondary blank.

3. The method of forming a container according to claim 1, wherein theconnection of said panels is accomplished by heating and pressingarticulated marginal flanges along the longitudinal edges of broughtinto said panels overlapping and seam forming relationship.

4. The method of forming a container of the character described, whichconsists in forming a primary blank of sheet material defining asubstantially square central area and oppositely extended panels,forming a similar secondary blank, said blanks being treated withheatsealable material, superposing said blanks in a crosswise relationwith said central areas in registry, and subjecting said superposedblanks to the deforming and pressing action of opposed heated dies whichconnect said central areas and fold said panels into edge to edgerelation and in seam forming relationship.

5. An apparatus for forming a container of foldable sheet material,comprising a male mandrel die member and a hollow female die member,said dies being complementary with each other with respect to the shapeof their respective wall surfaces to conform with the shape to beassumed by the container, said female die member being provided withheating means and adapted to be registered with said male die member intelescopic relationship to complete the forming of said container, ashaft mounted to move through said female die member and having a platenhead provided with heating means and adapted to be encountered by theend wall of said male die member, said end wall consisting in part of aplaten head on a shaft mounted for reciprocating movement through themale die member, the face of the end wall of the latter die beingrecessed inwardly of the boundary edges thereof, the face of said platenhead positioned within the female die member having a projected areaextending outwardly of its boundary edges and shaped to conform with theshape of said recessed face, whereby the central part of an assembledtwo piece cruciform blank of said sheet material may be clamped, heatedand a section thereof offset in planar relation to form a base endclosure of the container as a first step prior to the forming of thebody side walls thereof upon movement into telescopic registry of themale and female die members to complete said container.

6. The method of forming a container of the character described, whichconsists in forming a primary blank of substantially rigid sheetmaterial having thermoplastic adhesive on at least seam forming areasand defining a substantially rectangular central area and oppositelyextending panels with longitudinal side edge areas defining marginalflanges, forming a similar secondary blank with an opening in itscentral area, superposing said blanks in crosswise relation to bring thecentral areas into registry, joining said areas under heat and pressure,first bending said panels of the secondary blank along opposite edges ofits central area in advance of bending said panels of the primary blankalong opposite edges of its central area to bring said extending panelsof both blanks into edge relation, and connecting said panels in saidrelationship by imposing heat and pressure upon the areas defined bysaid marginal flanges thereby defining a container body having asubstantially rectangular cross section embodied with a liquid tight endclosure.

7. The method of forming a container as set forth in claim 6, includinga first step of embossing the central area of said primary blank duringthe joining of said central areas to form a plug which fits snugly intosaid opening prior to the bending of said blanks to form said containerbody.

8. In container forming apparatus which includes a male die form definedas having a substantially flat end wall formation and transverselyextended tapering longitudinal side walls arranged in opposing pairs, ahollow female die form being provided and having longitudinal side wallsthat are shaped coincident with said side walls of the male form, saidfemale form having open ends and an actuated slider central shaftpassing through its hollow opening, the free end of said shaft beingprovided with a platen head defined as aligned and shaped coincidentwith said end wall of the male form, one of said die forms beingarranged with means to be moved reciprocally with respect to the otherdie form in telescopic relationship and independently of said platenhead slider shaft actuated movement, the end wall portion of said maleform and face of said platen head being adapted to clamp and compress adeformation into the central wall portions of two crossed containerforming blanks upon registry therebetween and upon movement of saidslider shaft prior to the actuated movement of said one die form, andupon the movement thereof the laterally extended wall panel portions ofthe clamped blanks are folded, drawn and shaped upon the side walls ofthe male die form by the influence of the female form, therebyconstructing the longitudinal side walls of the container and in seamforming relationship extended transversely from the corner side edges ofthe base end closure portion thereof constituted by said clamped centralportions of the container forming blanks.

9. An apparatus for forming a container of fo-ldable sheet material,comprising a hollow female die member having tapering side walls whoseinner surfaces are shaped to conform with the shape to be assumed by thecontainer, said member being substantially rectangular in cross sectionand provided with heating means adjacent its longitudinal corner ends, acomplementary male die member adapted to register into and out of saidfemale die member in telescopic relationship and having an end wall andtapering side walls, the exterior surfaces of said side walls conformingsubstantially to those of the female die member, a slider shaftextending centrally through the opening of said female die member andmounted for independent reciprocating movement, a platen head on thefree end of said shaft and its face adapted to be encountered by the endwall portion of the male die member, whereby the central portion of acruciform blank of said foldable sheet material may be clamped andcompressed between said end wall and platen head just prior to themovement of the male and female die members into telescopic registrywith each other, whereby upon said movement the outwardly extended panelportions of said clamped blank are folded transversely and upon theexterior face of the side walls of the male die member thereby formingthe tapering body side walls the end wall closure of the longitudinalside walls of the constructed container.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said end wall of the maledie and encountered surface of said platen head may be provided withcomplementary surface configuration whereby upon clamping said centralclosure forming part of the blank between said surfaces saidconfiguration constitutes male and female embossing dies to offset thematerial of the blank part that is clamped and thereby form an openabledispensary end closure of the body side walls of the container whenformed.

'- ReferencesCitedin the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSOrosby Mar;'29,' Reynolds Nov. 16; "Smith Jan. 1,

Simmons June 6, Schmiedel Aug. 1, Bergstein Sept. 18,- Reid Mar. 7,Misch June 12, Moore L. "June12, Bolding Mar. 5,"

